By Juliet Ezeh
The Nigeria Customs Service has assured airlines and shipping companies of technical support as the country prepares to roll out the National Single Window Project, a platform designed to streamline trade documentation and cargo clearance.
The assurance was given by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a stakeholder engagement with airline and shipping line operators in Abuja.
Adeniyi explained that the Service would establish dedicated help desks staffed with trained personnel to address operational challenges that may arise during the migration to the new digital trade system.
According to him, the support structure is aimed at ensuring that industry stakeholders experience a smooth transition when the National Single Window becomes fully operational.
He noted that the directive to push forward with the initiative came from Bola Tinubu, who mandated the Service to take decisive steps towards the successful implementation of the platform.
The Customs boss emphasised that airlines and shipping line operators play a crucial role in the success of the project, describing them as key partners in facilitating efficient cross-border trade.
Also speaking at the engagement, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, described the National Single Window as a major step in the agency’s broader digital transformation programme.
She explained that extensive preparatory work had already been undertaken to ensure that the system aligns with operational realities across the trade ecosystem.
Adebakin further clarified that the technology-driven platform is designed to improve transparency, efficiency, and speed in trade processes rather than replace human resources.
Similarly, the Director of the project, Tola Fakolade, commended the Customs Service for its leadership role in coordinating the implementation process.
He noted that the Service remains the most critical institutional partner in the project due to its experience and central role in cargo clearance and trade facilitation.
Industry experts believe that the successful implementation of the National Single Window could significantly reduce bureaucratic delays in cargo processing, improve revenue generation, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in global trade.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.